Attention Future Home Sellers: INVENTORY IS LOW IN MAINE! There are pre-qualified buyers waiting for new listings to hit the market that may fulfill their criteria. Seriously, I have current clients who have seen everything that is available and they still need to find a home! So, my new tool couldn't come at a better time!

Check out maine.nameyoursellingprice.com - a cool new way to let me know what your home is like and if you could sell at a certain price, would you? This way when I have a buyer, I can check my database and let you know I may have found a good match! No typical listing stress, no Open Houses, no showing request inconveniences, no mess!

Call Megan for more information at 221-5450 or simply follow the steps on the website. I promise you, selling in a low inventory hot market is advantageous for the seller!

Spring is here and all of the snow is almost gone - jump into the real estate market, pack your boxes and don't look back!

With the miracles of the internet these days, sometimes homebuyers feel so comfortable "seeing" what is out there for inventory and can purchase the first home they actually view in person. And sometimes, it takes buyers longer...

There really is no right or wrong amount of homes to view, it truly depends on the buyers' individual needs and willingness to make changes after they become the owners. On average, in my experience, it takes 10-15 home showings for a buyer to be confident in their decision. Often times, that means going back to the top two to look at the details again, or perhaps bring a friend or family member for a second opinion. But in my four years of selling real estate, I have had some clients who really need to see all that is out there (in every surrounding town and then just a little further) before they can decide what is best for them. I would never recommend this to buyers, as the homes can all jumble together and make the actual decision making seem overwhelming. We'll get you there, eventually, but you could look back and realize house number 10 would have been better than house number 56 which you end up settling on.

My suggestion is to make a list of needs and wants and then compare it with the list of anyone who is also purchasing the home with you. And SAVE it. A few weeks down the line, you'll need to remind yourself exactly what was most important to you both. And if you can't come up with a list of needs vs. wants, then you're not ready. Buyers who aren't specific enough always end up on a long neverending search. So, if this is you, continue "window shopping" online and when you've narrowed down what your true desires are, reach out to a realtor to view homes in person.

I write this blog today because a long-term search client of ours, who finally found the home after I stopped counting, recently presented Corey and I with the amazing award pictured above (it is award season, right?). I'd like to thank the Academy... umm I mean the Realtor Association and the Maine Real Estate Network, my Mom and Dad, my wonderful partner-in-crime Corey Scott, and of course, since they'd be mad if I forgot them, I also need to say "Hi" to Red and Lucky!

One of the many questions that first time home buyers ask is what exactly are closing costs and how much will they cost me out of pocket? Closing costs can vary and they are based on the property that you are looking to buy and additionally where the property is located.

Some of the closing costs when purchasing a home include:

· A fee for running your credit report.· A loan origination fee, which lenders charge for processing the loan.· Attorney’s fees.· Discount points, which are fees you may pay in exchange for a lower interest rate.· Survey or mortgage inspection fee, which a lender requires to the verify property lines and compliance with the town.· Title search fees, which pay for a background check on the title to make sure the title is free and clear of things such as unpaid mortgages or tax liens on the property. · Lender's and owner's title insurance, which protects the lender in case there is a title defect that the search may have missed.· Escrow deposit, which pays for property taxes and private mortgage insurance in advance.· Recording fee, which is paid to a city or county in exchange for recording the new land records.

Closing costs range depending on the purchase price and taxes and insurance. So, for an example if you are purchasing a home that cost $150,000, closing costs may be $3,500 in one town but in a more expensive town it could be close to $5,000. Often, many of the fees that make up closing costs home buyers can negotiate with the seller of the home over who pays these fees.

As always, if you have any other questions concerning closing costs or the home buying experience please let us know! Have a great day!

There's been lots of talk lately about the proposed changes in the Flood Maps. What does this mean? Is your home going to flood? Do you need flood insurance? Well, the short answer is: it depends.

Current flood maps that determine whether a homeowner's dwelling is at a risk of flooding are from the 80's and a lot has changed since then. So, FEMA is undertaking a remapping, which could change the flood risk for particular homeowners. If your home was not in a flood zone, but is in a potentially new flood zone, it might make sense for you to take precautions now and get an elevation certificate and secure flood insurance now. You could lock-in savings before insurance rates rise when the new FEMA changes are approved.

Portland Headlight! Mt. Battie! Cresent Beach! Baxter State Park! I couldn't have compiled a more comprehensive list myself, so I'm repurposing via a quick post to share the recent article from mainetoday.com. There are beautiful photos and links to the attractions - so check it out and bookmark it for future exploring in our great state of Maine!

Don't pass on a great deal...

Are you getting a case of cabin fever looking at listings online without any hope of purchasing one of them? Waiting until Spring because it would just be easier to move than during a snowstorm? Think with more inventory, you'll get a better price? Reconsider your options and contact Megan about buying now. Find out the reasons why by watching the video below:

New Construction an option for many first-time buyers in Maine

After 4 moves in 6 years (it's a hazard of the business) Corey and I just went through a new build process for our forever home - and my first two transactions of the new year, were for first-time buyers purchasing new construction homes in Maine. So, I figured it might be time for a blog about how to buy a NEW home in Maine.

Looking at all the available Maine homes on the market and not finding exactly what fits your style? Building is an option, with NO construction loan. In a traditional new construction home, the process would be:

Find land

Purchase land (with cash)

Find a local bank that will approve you for a construction loan that can pay out to the builder at various points of completion

6 months after completion, refinance for lower more competitive rate

But, since this process is long and costly, builders have caught on and many will offer to take on the total investment - so, you may build your dream home and only start making payments when you purchase the home with traditional financing at the end of all construction. For some builders, you could be in your new home from start to finish in just 90 days! Some buyers take that long just to find the house and then go through the traditional 30-40 day contract period. And how cool would it be to have photos of your home being built? See above! (Although it would have been "cooler" if I had made a plan to take a progress photo of the front of the house in the same exact spot for a flip book type timeline - next house! WAIT, there will be no next house for us! Must stop shopping!)

Contact Megan for more details - 207.221.5450. My new construction knowledge is very fresh and I'm happy to help buyers through the process each and every step. You'll find it's fun and very rewarding to make choices and start fresh in a home built just for you!

Some unfinished basements are better basement finishing candidates than others. Here’s how to evaluate your space for a basement finishing.

Basement finishing is a great way to add that extra bedroom or playroom you’ve always wanted, if you have the money and space.Basement remodel costWhen it comes to basement finishing, not all unfinished space is created equal. Consequently, the per-square-foot price of basement finishing starts at $100/sq. ft. and can climb higher depending on how much or how little remodeling you must do.

Granted, you won’t have to dig and lay a foundation or frame and insulate exterior walls—that’s already done.

Depending on your circumstances, here’s what you’ll need to know:Building to codeThe International Residential Code (IRC) says a basement living space must have a clear, floor-to-ceiling height of at least 7 feet (6 feet for bathrooms). Local codes for basement finishing may vary, and exceptions are made for the presence of exposed structural beams, girders, or mechanical system components along the ceiling, but only if they’re spaced at least 4 feet apart and extend no more than 6 inches from the ceiling.

If your existing basement ceiling height doesn’t meet those specifications, you have two options, and neither is cheap:

Raise your house and build up the foundation around it to gain the ceiling height you need.

Lower the floor, which entails removing the existing concrete slab floor, excavating to the desired level, and pouring new concrete footings and a floor slab.

Both options during basement finishing require professional and precise engineering, excavation, and structural work that will cost at least $20,000.Add a staircaseThe IRC also governs the staircase that leads from your home’s main level to the basement remodel. Requirements include a handrail and stairs with proper width, tread, and riser dimensions. There must be at least 6 ft. 8 inches of headroom at every point along the staircase.

If the stairway isn’t wide enough (at least 36 inches) or the steps aren’t to code, you may have to rebuild them during basement finishing, an extra cost of about $2,000.Condition the spaceHeating and cooling your basement finishing can be as simple as tapping into existing HVAC main trunks and adding a couple of vents ($1,000) or as complicated as upgrading your entire heating and cooling systems ($7,000 to $15,000).Your contractor will have to “size” your existing system to make sure it can handle the additional load and will comply with building codes that consider health and safety, such as adequate venting of furnace combustion gasses.Cure moisture problemsYou’ll have to fix moisture problems before basement finishing begins. You may have to waterproof walls and floors, grade the yard so water falls away from the foundation, install a sump pump, or install drains around the foundation, all or any of which can add thousands in costs.Add emergency egressCode dictates that basement finishing have at least one door or window big enough for people to get out and for help to get in during an emergency: If you’re including a bedroom, it must have its own point of egress. Each egress opening must be at least 5.7 sq. ft. with the windowsill no more than 44 inches above the floor.

Most basement walls are built using poured concrete or masonry blocks, which can be cut (although not as easily as wood-framed walls) to create openings for egress windows or doors.

- Rich Binsacca - has been writing about home improvement since 1987. He is the author of 12 books on home-related topics, is a contributing editor for Builder and EcoHome magazines, and has written for Remodeling, Home, and Architectural Record.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

In Maine we have a name for out-of-state visitors - those from "away". But, that doesn't mean Mainers don't welcome visitors, vacationers, summerers, and those looking to move permanently! In fact, Maine has a great reputation for opening their business, homes, and open spaces to visitors. The most recent governor of Maine even changed the entry sign into the state to say "Open for Business".

So, when I received a call this weekend from a family in Connecticut looking to buy a condo in Cape Elizabeth, I jumped at the opportunity to welcome them and learn more about their hopes for "weekending" in Maine during the summer and eventually retiring here. The process for them, was quick as they had been looking online for well over six months - but I've had clients who have forged a long search finding the "one" from afar. There are many tools to send listings, video neighborhoods, learn about the history of a home, and even sign documentation electronically. Although not recommended, a buyer from out-of state, can find, offer, and even buy a home without ever leaving the comfort of their current location.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's start your Maine home buying search and we'll have you in your new home just in time for all the fun summer activities Maine offers. See you at the beach!